MSPmentor

Sometimes I just can’t let go of a hunch. For a few weeks now, I’ve been asking MSP platform providers if they would ever open source their software. The open source approach, as you likely know, would allow customers and VARs to add incremental value to MSP software components.

Neat, but most MSP companies told me they haven’t considered such a strategy. That will change next week, when Untangle launches an MSP Partner Program focused on open source network security. Read More >

Are managed services more than hype? I’ve spoken with quite a few VARs and solutions providers who have successfully moved into managed services. Still skeptical? Maybe you should book a trip to the MSP Alliance Fall Managed Services Conference. More than a dozen MSP platform providers are sponsoring the event. And scores of VARs will attend in a quest to better understand how managed services may bolster their businesses. Read More >

MSP platform providers can breathe a collective sigh of relief. Cisco Systems Inc. does not — I repeat, does not — plan to introduce a managed services platform. Instead, the company is preparing new pricing models for its products, so that managed service providers can more easily formulate their own pricing models for customers.

Cisco will announce the MSP pricing program in October. Some of the early details about the program popped up on TheVARguy.com on September 12. When pressed about the managed services strategy, Cisco executives said they had no plans to compete with Autotask, N-able, Kaseya, and other MSP platform providers. Also, Cisco has no plans to launch a managed security platform, nor does it plan to compete with the forthcoming Symantec Protection Network.

In early August, The VAR Guy’’s daily blog hinted that Kaseya was prepping a new initiative to help VARs offer 24×7 managed services. (See item 9 on this list.) That prediction came true today as part of Kaseya’s new emPower Program.

The Kaseya emPower Program includes three components:
• Kaseya emPower Out-Tasking
• Kaseya emPower Toolkit
• Kaseya emPower Education

The Out-Tasking effort leverages Kaseya IT Monitor Assist, an “always on” 24×7 monitoring system that filters through thousands of alerts to determine which items are critical and need immediate attention.

In contrast, the Kaseya emPower Toolkit provides access to technical information, sales and marketing tools and industry knowledge resources that were developed through collaboration with successful MSP peers and industry analysts.

Additional Kaseya emPower Out-Tasking services and Kaseya emPower Education information will be made available and announced in the coming months. For additional information, visit www.kaseya.com/empower.

What many VARs and solutions providers need now is a a reality check to show them the highs — and lows — they’ll experience when they strive to become MSPs. Here’s a great reality check from Addicted to IT, a blog that caught my attention earlier today.